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I am trying to do two things in Windows 8.1:

  1. Add a new program to the Start Menu of all users. This is an app that was added without using an installer (Eclipse).

  2. Remove defaults that are part of the Start Screen that are added for all users such as the weather app and x-box live.

This is a lab update for a private school, so the less the kids have to do themselves, and the fewer temptations their are, the smoother the semester will go.

Any help will be appreacated. Thanks! :-)

codingCat
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1 Answers1

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There is a Windows 8.1 Group Policy intended for just this situation.

  1. Log on as a (new) user and configure the Start Screen layout the way you want.

  2. Export the Start Screen Layout to XML using the "Export-StartLayout" PowerShell command; saving it to a network location all computers have access to:

    Export-StartLayout -Path "\\server\sharedFolder\SchoolLab.xml" -As XML

  3. Using GPedit.msc, create a new Policy (better idea), or edit an existing one.

  4. Open the policy, and navigate to User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar, and edit the Start Screen Layout policy setting.

  5. Enable the policy setting and type in the path to the XML configuration file you created before (ie: \\server\sharedFolder\SchoolLab.xml).

  6. Apply the new Policy to the OU containing the Users you want it to apply to.

The users start screen will be configured as per the XML configuration file the next time they log onto the computer.

More Info:

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